Dental Health Month in Somerset, NJ Near You

Steven A. Puma, D.D.SAppointments: (732) 549-3114

Steven Puma D.D.S.

Steven A. Puma, D.D.S

Fords area restorative dentistry at Steven A. Puma, D.D.S can produce natural-looking results. If you have a damaged or missing tooth, we can help.

Our highly skilled team will assess your need for a crown, bridge, implant or other procedure to restore or improve your smile. Our goal is to provide quality dental care for your life-long oral health.

Steven A. Puma, D.D.S practices the highest infection control standards to protect our patients and ourselves. In the Fords, NJ area, Dr. Steven Puma and his staff strictly observe all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines. All instruments are cleaned, disinfected and routinely sterilized as recommended by the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control. Whenever possible, disposable, single-use items are used to ensure your safety.

For comfortable dental hygiene treatment in the Fords, New Jersey area, Dr. Steven Puma is known for having a gentle touch. The friendly team at Steven A. Puma, D.D.S provides teeth cleaning for a whiter smile.

Maintaining good dental hygiene is the foundation for healthy teeth and gums. We're committed to helping you have a lifetime of oral health.

For comfortable tooth cleaning in the Fords, New Jersey area, Dr. Steven Puma is known for having a gentle touch. The friendly team at Steven A. Puma, D.D.S provides dental hygiene treatments for a whiter smile.

Maintaining good dental hygiene is the foundation for healthy teeth and gums. We're committed to helping you have a lifetime of oral health.

Fords area cosmetic dentist Steven Puma, D.D.S. has extensive experience creating beautiful smiles. They're one of the first things people notice about you.

Our professional team will be happy to discuss your aesthetic dentistry options. The attractive results you'll get from Steven A. Puma, D.D.S can change your life!

Robert F. Tanne, DMD, PAAppointments: (973) 994-4294

Robert Tanne D.M.D.

Robert F. Tanne, DMD, PA

With dental anesthesia, Livingston area dentist Robert Tanne, D.M.D. you can have extensive dental treatments done during one appointment. You won't feel any discomfort during the procedure.

Your oral health is too important to put off. Feel free to talk to us about how dental anesthesia can make your life easier, and your teeth healthier.

Have you ever considered natural-looking, permanent dental implants instead of uncomfortable dentures? Incredible recent advances in technology allow Livingston area dental implants dentist Dr. Robert Tanne to create tooth implants just for you that can be permanently anchored to your jaw. This is a great option to consider if you've had negative experiences with dentures in the past.

If you're looking for dentures that look great and last, look no further than Robert F. Tanne, DMD, PA located in the Livingston, NJ area. Robert Tanne, D.M.D. will assess your needs and fit you with durable, comfortable, natural-looking dentures - at a price you can afford.

The friendly, caring staff of Robert F. Tanne, DMD, PA in the Livingston, New Jersey area strive to make you feel comfortable and well-cared for at your dentist appointment. Robert Tanne, D.M.D. is committed to serving you and your family's dental needs, year after year. Come and see what we have to offer in a professional setting where top-notch customer service still matters.

A negative self image can be detrimental to many facets of your life. Livingston area dentist Dr. Robert Tanne understands the positive life-changing power that a healthy and beautiful smile can bring to you. Here at Robert F. Tanne, DMD, PA, we don't want you to be embarrassed any longer. Why not take your smile - and even your life - to a new level of self-confidence and beauty?

How Pregnancy Affects Your Dental Care

Thinking about your baby and prenatal care is normal during pregnancy; however, thinking about your oral health and dental care may not be forefront on your mind, but dentistry is still very important. Women need to pay special attention to their teeth and gums especially during pregnancy to avoid the increased risk of dental problems.

Your Changing Body and Changing Dental Care Needs During Pregnancy.

Pregnancy brings a change in oral health and hormones, especially increased levels of estrogen and progesterone, which are linked to plaque buildup on teeth. Plaque that is not removed can cause gingivitis and swollen gums that are tender and prone to bleed. Most pregnant women experience gingivitis to some degree, but it doesn't usually surface until the second trimester.

If you had gingivitis before becoming pregnant, your condition will likely be aggravated; untreated gingivitis can lead to a more serious problem -- periodontal disease. Swollen gums that become irritated can also lead to pregnancy tumors, benign growths that will usually shrink and disappear without treatment. However, if the tumor causes discomfort or interferes with chewing or brushing, the dentist may suggest removing it.

Special Preventive Dental Care Tips for Pregnant Women

Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and after each meal, if possible.

Visit your dentist for a check-up and cleaning in both your first and second trimesters to control plaque and maintain good oral health.

Handling Dental Care Emergencies During Pregnancy

If you experience dental emergencies causing pain, you can be treated at any time; however, consult your doctor if anesthesia is required or a medication is prescribed to you. Avoid X-rays during pregnancy, unless they are critical to emergency treatment.

It is recommended to schedule elective procedures after your baby's birth. While you're expecting, have great expectations for maintaining good oral health. By doing so, you'll keep your beautiful smile and share it with your baby!

By Brian J. Gray, DDS, MAGD, FICO

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

What Is a Mouth Sore or Canker Sore and What Are the Causes?

People often use the terms "canker sores" and "cold sores" interchangeably. While both are very painful, a canker mouth sore is found on the inside of the mouth and is not contagious; cold sores are located on the inside or outside of the mouth and are contagious.

Canker Sores:

These sores are found inside the cheeks, on your tongue or the bottom of your mouth, and sometimes on your gums. They range from the size of a tiny pinhead to a penny. The sores are grayish-white in the center and circled with a red inflammation. Since it's an open mouth sore, it hurts when touched by anything, including saliva. They can burn and itch, too.

Canker sores might be called the "stress sores," because they are caused by different types of stress:

Emotional stress;

Physical stress, such as biting your tongue, burning your mouth, or an abrasion from braces or loose dentures; or

Chemical stress producing changes in your body, perhaps resulting from an illness or change in eating habits (such as medications, or too much of acidic foods such as tomatoes, grapefruit, or lemons).

About one in five people get them. Women in the 20-to-50 year age group get them more often. Once you get them, you're likely to experience them again. However, they usually go away after seven to ten days, although some can be longer-lasting.

An antimicrobial mouth rinse may lessen the irritation. Temporary relief can be provided by over-the-counter topical anesthetics. Pain relief varies with different products. Some medications provide a protective film that physically blocks contact with food and saliva, lessening irritation.

Good oral hygiene and a healthy diet are preventive measures for reducing the frequency of outbreaks.

Cold Sores

Also known as fever blisters, cold sores are caused by the virus herpes simplex. These are painful blisters that usually break out around the lips and sometimes under the nose or chin and normally heal within one week. They are very contagious. The virus stays in the body, causing recurrent lesions prompted from a fever, sunburn, skin abrasions, or stress.

They can be treated by your dentist with the same topical anesthetics to relieve pain and irritation as for canker sores. Prescription antiviral drugs can be effective in reducing viral infections that cause flare-ups.

Additionally, there are new topical medications (ointments) now available that shorten the duration of a breakout, when applied immediately after the cold mouth sore is noticed. All antiviral medications work best in the prodromal or early stage of the lesion. If the wound is open and sore, these medications are of little use as the healing time is still the same.

Be sure to consult with your dentist when any mouth sores do not heal.